Conservative proposals to boost the performances of school pupils contain £500,000 less than a similar proposal last year, councillors heard.

Liberal Democrat Tim East said his party suggested £1.5m be directed to boosting education standards last year, with Alison Thomas, cabinet member for children’s services, describing this idea as “tinkering the edges”. But Mr East said this year the Tories were now praising their own addition of £1m to a similar project, despite it being a lower figure. Mrs Thomas said she could not recall what she said last year, but accepted she must have said it if it was on an audio recording of the meeting. And Mike Brindle, Lib Dem group leader, said of his group’s proposed £110,000 cut to allowances: “Members of the public are having a tough time financially. This is our way of saying ‘we are in it together’.” Mr Brindle said it also demonstrated if staff costs were to be kept down, then so should allowances. But Green and Conservative councillors suggested any decrease could deter people from attempting to become members.